Bill Text: NJ S3249 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires emergency shelters for the homeless to admit certain persons unless they pose danger.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-06-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S3249 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2016-S3249-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 3249

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 1, 2017

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  NILSA CRUZ-PEREZ

District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)

Senator  SHIRLEY K. TURNER

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires emergency shelters for the homeless to admit certain persons unless they pose danger.

 

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning emergency shelters for the homeless and amending P.L.2013, c.203.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    Section 1 of P.L.2013, c.203 (C.55:13C-2.1) is amended to read as follows:

     1.    a.  No person shall be refused admittance to an emergency shelter for the homeless based on a perception or belief that the person: (1) has a mental illness; (2) is a drug or alcohol dependent person, as defined in N.J.S.2C:35-2; (3) is not in compliance with a prescription medication regimen; or (4) has consumed alcoholic beverages off the premises, unless there is a reasonable basis to believe that the person poses a danger to self, others, or property, or if the basis for the refusal is otherwise authorized by law or regulation.

     b.    Nothing in subsection a. of this section shall prohibit an emergency shelter for the homeless from prohibiting the possession or consumption of controlled dangerous substances, as defined in N.J.S.2C:35-2, or alcoholic beverages on the premises.

(cf: P.L.2013, c.203, s.1)

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill prohibits emergency shelters for the homeless from restricting access to the shelter based on a perception or belief that a person is: (1) a drug or alcohol dependent person; (2) not in compliance with a prescription medication regimen; or (3) has consumed alcoholic beverages off the premises of the shelter.

     Current law prohibits emergency homeless shelters from refusing admittance to a person who is perceived or believed to have a mental illness. This bill expands the prohibition to include other members of vulnerable populations in need of shelter. Current law also provides that a shelter may prohibit admittance if there is a reasonable basis to believe that the person poses a danger to self, others, or property, or if the basis for the refusal is otherwise authorized by law or regulation. Under the bill, shelters would continue to have the authority to refuse admittance in these circumstances.

     Finally, the bill provides that shelters are authorized to prohibit the possession or consumption of controlled dangerous substances and alcoholic beverages on the premises.